The Agenda

“At a time when the government repeatedly acknowledges the pressure families are under, it makes absolutely no sense to reintroduce this charge”, according to local Social Democrats Councillor in Trim, Ronan Moore. Councillor Moore says that the decision to reintroduce state exam fees would heap further pressure on Meath and Louth families already struggling with the cost-of-living crisis, and must be reversed, and he joined us on Teh Agenda tis morning to talk to us some more about this.

We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Independent Ireland TD Ken O’Flynn in Cork, who took to social media yesterday to have his say on an event being held in Shannon on St Patrick’s Day called “Celebrate the Cultures of Shannon”. On his social media platforms Deputy O’Flynn wrote:“St Patrick’s Day is Ireland’s national day. It marks the feast of our patron saint and celebrates Irish history, Irish music and Irish culture.Everyone is welcome to celebrate with us. Ireland has always been welcoming… But the day should remain about Ireland.Turning St Patrick’s Day into a global “celebrate every culture” festival misses the point. Every nation deserves one day each year that honours its own heritage. Ireland deserves the same”.Deputy O'Flynn told us exactly why this event struck him and why he has called it out.

The Labour Party has launched its ‘Together We Thrive’ campaign – highlighting the contribution of migrants to Ireland’s economy and society.The campaign will run for the next three weeks and features the real-life story of immigrants to Ireland from Ukraine, Syria and India.We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Labour TD and spokesperson on justice, home affairs and migration, Alan Kelly, who told us more about this campaign and about why it is so important that we all acknowledge and highlight the contribution of migrants in Ireland.We were also joined CEO of the Immigrant Council of Ireland, Teresa Buczkowska, who spoke to us about Ireland’s new immigration strategy. Migration into the country must be to the benefit of Irish people, Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan recently privately told Government ministers, and we got Teresa’s thoughts on all of this.

Planning Rules to be relaxed for one-off rural homes 

UAE authorities have charged 21 people under cyber criminal law 

Eoin O ' Boyle from OB VAPES responds to Cnlr. Ciaran Fisher looking for vapes shops to be closed

Paddy malone spoke about shopping in the north is effecting Dundalk

Garda seizures of illegal high-powered e-scooters, scrambler bikes, e-bikes, mini-motorbikes and quads have multiplied since last year, figures obtained by the Irish Independent have shown.However, despite warnings about the dangerously fast vehicles, no state agency is yet taking responsibility for cracking down on shops and online retailers openly selling them, even as leading medics warn of an epidemic of head injuries among young people.Rates of e-scooter injuries among children have soared, with Temple Street Children’s Hospital saying since 2021 there has been a fourfold increase in the numbers presenting with such injuries.Gardaí in Dundalk, Co Louth, reported late last month that they encountered an eight-year-old travelling on an e-scooter at speeds of up to 30kmh and impounded the vehicle.We found out more about all of this on The Agenda this morning.